urbanMSP

UHG is looking to sell or lease its HQ. The company will be MN based. No word on what there office space plan is.
I can dream for a bit this means they will move downtown even if that is very doubtful

I work for a large company in the suburbs that is similarly trying to vastly reduce their real estate footprint. Back when we worked in the office there'd be periodic grapevine rumors that we were moving downtown, and the rank and file employees were pretty much universally horrified by that thought- having to fight the traffic going downtown and paying for parking, and in recent years increasingly how much crime there was there. Part of the attraction with taking jobs at our company was being able to work in the suburbs. Now that all the rank and file are working from home and never coming back, we couldn't care less where the people in suits want to be.

I do think there's a lot of self-selection going on. People that want to work in the city look for jobs there first, then look in the suburbs only if those leads don't pan out, and vice versa.

I agree with your final comment, which brings up the idea that if your company is in the suburbs you're going to attract a bunch of reactionaries. Ive never thought about that before but those tentacles have to reach deep into every aspect of the business which is-- interesting.

It's counterintuitive to ask people to consider transit to reach downtown jobs at a time when transit and downtown crime are high, but increasing usage rates among rank and file workers will help solve both problems. I don't mean to diminish the concerns, but it is a chicken and egg problem.

I've never worked in downtown so I don't know- are there similar "reactionaries" working downtown that are horrified at rumors that the company might be relocating to the suburbs and whose tentacles have to reach deep into every aspect of the business?

*raises hand*

I've never worked in downtown so I don't know- are there similar "reactionaries" working downtown that are horrified at rumors that the company might be relocating to the suburbs and whose tentacles have to reach deep into every aspect of the business?

Yes! The benefit of a downtown office is we drive from all directions. If my company would move to Eden Prairie or Bloomington, I’d seriously consider leaving because my drive is already long into downtown from the North burbs.

Yes! The benefit of a downtown office is we drive from all directions. If my company would move to Eden Prairie or Bloomington, I’d seriously consider leaving because my drive is already long into downtown from the North burbs.

And regardless of the current transit situation (frequency or conditions, take your pick), a centrally located office has the best chance of benefitting from investments in transit or bike infrastructure. Downtown is the easiest place to get by bus or LRT. A suburb can invest in one well placed off street bike trail and create a bicycle highway that taps into the extensive city network of bike lanes and trails. Etc.

There's no amount of investment in transit, freeways, or personal rocket ships that could make a commute from a suburb on one side of the metro to a suburb on the opposite side bearable for someone who doesn't absolutely love spending time in their car. And despite some particularly loud outliers, most people do not enjoy their commute or want to spend more time in their cars than absolutely necessary.

In "lol suburbs" news, Boston Scientific is building a new facility on the old gravel pits east of Arbor Lakes. It will include 1,238 parking stalls for "at least 256 employees". There will be a solar array, though, so don't go calling them eco-unfriendly.

A 4.84 parking ratio, lol.

And what's their reasoning for that amount of parking?

expansion maybe? Is that 256 number their current number of employees or what their looking to hire after its built.

They have around 3k employees in Maple Grove currently. That must be "new" hires or moves to the state

Anoka approves 'social district' that allows public drinking in area of city

https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-ne ... ed-to-area

The City of Anoka has approved plans to introduce a "social district" that would include an area where people can openly drink alcohol in public.

The pilot program was first introduced and approved by state legislators in the 2022 omnibus liquor bill, and it has been finalized as of Monday by the Anoka City Council.

It means that from Sept. 6, people ages 21 and over can purchase alcohol from a licensed business and drink it in public provided they remain inside the common area.

I've thought that this sort of area should be allowed for entertainment districts. Let these businesses collaborate and create events that bring people together. In the summer months I enjoy patios and I'd imagine this new program would allow shared patios. A decade ago I visited Kansas City and they have similar shared space rules for the Power and Light District. I loved it

Can anyone see what the next steps are? What is the success of the pilot program based on and how soon could we see this rolled out to other cities besides Anoka?

Downtown Ft. Lauderdale has a similar setup. They'll switch out your glassware for a plastic cup when leaving a bar.

Very civilized until you need to use the bathroom.

Locked article. https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/ ... 0YVWgHtUbM

Luxury home development in Independence so people can see the stars. Too bad they won't be able to see as many with the light pollution.

https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-ne ... biDj9oUgMo

Development proposal consisting mostly of townhomes but also some single-family homes and a couple medical buildings on the corner of 162nd Street & Buck Hill Road in Lakeville. Right now the site is undeveloped besides what appears to be an abandoned farm.

Is that what all exurban development looks like? The privatization of all amenities (park, pool, dog walk, etc.) rather than having public parks & plazas?

Not much different from "amenity decks" in urban & inner suburban development.

Whatever happened to public space? Is privatization of public good the new redlining?